Initiation device.



" E. DE MOULIN. INITIATION DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED PEB.24, 1910. l 976,851 l V Patented Nov. 29,1910.

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ERASTUS DE MOULIN, OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

INITIATION DEVICE.

To all whom Zt may concern:

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs DE MOULIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Bond and Stateof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Initiation Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to initiation devices such as are employed by secret societies during their initiation ceremonies, and the invention relates particularly to a device of the character specified intended to be used as a weight lifting and paddling machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the kind specified in which the character of the machine is so thoroughly disguised that it can be employed without necessitating. the hoodwinking or blindfolding of the candidate who is to be initiated.

A further object of the invention is to dispense with the necessity of employing a concealed paddle and to use in lieu thereof a disguised paddle.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character specified which is compact in construction and will not take up very much space.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an initiation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device looking at it from the under side; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus with the concealed paddle in inoperative position; and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section with the parts in the position which they assume after ithe device has been operated, a portion of the paddle being broken away.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the dierent figures of the drawings.

The initiation apparatus of the present Specification of Letters Patent.

Application ied February 24, 1910.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Serial No. 545,564.

invention preferably comprises an elongated box or casing 1 which preferably is open at its lower side or bottom as indicated in Fig. 2. The top of the box 1 preferably consists of two sections, a stationary cover member 2 and a movable cover member 3 which constitutes what may be termed a disguised paddle. The paddle 3 is intended to simulate the appearance of the cover of the box 1, and to be released by the candidate uncon scious'ly as will be hereinafter described, after which it flies up so as to perform its intended operation. The paddle 3 is preferably thinner than the stationary cover portion 2 of the box and when in closed position, sticks under a projection 4 formed upon said stationary cover member 2 as indicated clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The means for pivotally connecting the paddle 3 with the box 1 preferably are so arranged as to permit a sliding movement of said paddle during the striking operation. For this purpose, the paddle 3 at its pivot end, is provided on the lower surface thereof with an extension 5 into which is fitted one or more oppositely extending pivot pins 6 each of which projects into an elongated longitudinal groove 7 cut in the inner surface of the side of the box 1 adjacent the stationary cover member 2 thereof as indicated clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The means for operating the paddle 3 after it has been released in the manner hereinafter described, preferably includes a bracket or angular arm 10 bolted or otherwise suitably secured at 11 to the extension 5 of the paddle 3 and connected at its lower end as indicated at 12 with a spring 13,'

which is anchored to a suitable bracket 14 secured to the box 1 as indicated at 15. When the paddle 3 is released in the man ner hereinafter described, the pivot pins 6 slide in the groove 7 from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that indicated in Fig. 4, the spring 13 thus serving to throw the disguised paddle 3 into operative position.

The means for holding the paddle 3 in inoperative position preferably includes a plate l5 secured at 16 to the under side of the paddle 3 and having an extension 17 spaced far enough away from the under surface of the paddle 3 to engage a bar or plate 18 which extends across the top of the box 1. So long as the extension 17 is in engagement with the bar 18, the paddle 3 cannot operate, but when said paddle slides longitud-inally far enough to release the extension 17 from the bar 18, the paddle is permitted to operate.

The means for preventing longitudinal movement of the paddle 3 so as to holdit against operation, preferably consists of a spring catch 20 shown best in Figs. 3 and 4. The spring catch 20 is bent at one point to form a shoulder 21 and is also formed with 'an extension 22. The shoulder 21 of the spring catch 20 is adapted to engage a loop or bracket 25 secured to the under surface Vof the cover plate 2 so as to hold the paddle 3 against movement. The extension 22 of the catch 20 fits over a plate 31, which, as shown in Fig. 2,- is normally held in its ,lowest position by means of coil springs 32 which surround draw-rods or arms 33 connected with the plate or bracket 31 and having handles 34 at their upper ends.

In operation, the candidate for admission to the secret society is required to demonstrate his strength by grasping the handles 34 and drawing upward thereon. This operation of course lifts the end 22 of the spring catch 20 so as to move the shoulder 21 out of engagement with the plate 25 whereupon the spring 13 causes the paddle to be operated. During the above operation, the candidate is required to stand upon a removable metal bar 40 which extends through suitable grooves in the box l as shown in Fig. 4 and held in place therein by metal plates 41. The bar 40 can be drawn out of the box 1 when it is desired to store Vthe same away.

For the purpose of sounding an alarm when the device is operated, soas to startle the candidate, it is preferred to employ a cartridge mechanism and an ejector mechanism for ejecting water or other liquid into the face of the candidate. The means for securing these results will now be described. Y The reference numeral 45 indicates a cartridge holder which is suitably secured to one side of the box 1 and is adapted to receive an ordinary blank cartridge. l The cartridge in the holder 45 is adapted to be discharged by means of a hammer mechanism 46 pivotally mounted at 47 and held normally in engagement with the cartridge in the holder 45 by means of a coil spring 48,

" if from the cartridge in the which is wrapped around the pivot of the hammer 46. When the disguised paddle 3 is drawn backward by the spring 13, a projection 49 upon the rear end of the catch 20, strikes the hammer 46 and moves it away holder 45, thereby placing the coil spring 48 under tension. The further movement of the paddlel 3 causes the projection 49 to move out of engagement with the hammer 46, whereupon the spring 48 throws said hammer energetically back into contact with the cartridge in the holder 45 so as to explode the same.

VThe means for projecting water or other liquid preferably comprises a bulb 50 which is provided with an outlet or pipe 51 leading n up toa dial or registering device 52 mounted upon the cover member 2. The bulb 50 is suitably filled with water and is adapted to be compressed so as to discharge the contents thereof, by means of an angle lever 55 pivoted at 56 and having connected therewith a coil spring 57 which is anchored at 58. The upper end of the angle lever 55 is engaged by an extension 58 formed upon the paddle 3. The extension 58 normally holds the angle lever 55 in inoperative position against the tension of the spring 57. When the paddle is released the angle lever 55 is permitted to be rocked upon its fulcrum by means of the sprin 57, so as to compress the bulb 50 and project the contents thereoi into the face of the candidate. The paddle 3 upon the lower surface thereof, and adjacent the outer end thereof, preferably is provided with a cross piece or brace 60 which fits properly into the upper side of the box 1.

The initiation apparatus of the present invention is strong, simple and durable and inexpensive in construction as well as compact in form and can be readily Stored away in the society rooms without taking up very much space. As previously mentioned, its nature is so effectively disguised that even they most suspicious candidate will operate the same without anticipating the effect.

The invention disclosed herein should be distinguished from both the class of devices in which the paddle is concealed, and those in which no attempt is `made either to conceal the paddle or the nature of the apparatus and in using which it is necessary to blindfold or hoodwink the candidate.

What is claimed as new is 1. A paddle machine comprising a casing, one wall of the casing being movable relatively to the remainder of the casing and serving as a disguised paddle, means for operating said paddle, means for locking said paddle in inoperative position, and means for unlocking said paddle to permit its operation.

2. An initiation device comprising a box, a portion of said box being in the form of a disguised paddle, means for locking said paddle in inoperative position, means foi` releasing said paddle, and means for operating said paddle.

3. An initiation device comprising a casing, a disguised paddle connected with said casing and having a slidable pivot, means for locking said paddle in inoperative position, means for releasing said paddle, and means for operating said paddle when released.

4. An initiation device comprising an elongated box having a stationary cover portion, a movable cover portion forming a disguised paddle, and means for locking said paddle in inoperative position, means for releasing said paddle, and means for moving said paddle into operative position when released.

5. An initiation device having a casing, a disguised paddle having a sliding pivotal connection with said casing, means for loclr-l ing said paddle in inoperative position, means for releasing said paddle, means for operating said paddle when released, and sensation devices adapted to be operated when said paddle is operated.

6. An initiation device comprising a casing, means for anchoring said casing in position, a disguised paddle forming part of the casing, a pivot for said paddle having a sliding connection with the casing, a coil spring connected with said paddle for operating the same, a spring catch connected with said paddle for holding the saine in inoperative position against the tension of the spring, handle devices Jfor releasing said catch, an automatically operated hammer, for firing a cartridge, a cartridge holder, and a fluid ejector operated when the paddle is released.

7. An initiation device comprising an elongated casing having a stationary cover plate and a groove formed in the inner walls thereof, a disguised paddle forming a portion of the cover of said casing when in inoperative position, an extension on said padple, pivot members connected with said extension and tted into said groove, an arm projecting downward from the lower surface of said extension, a spring connected to said arm at one end and with said casing at the other end, a spring catch connected with said extension, a cross piece adapted to be engaged by said spring catch, a pair of handles, a plate connected with said handles and adapted to release said catch, coil springs for holding said handle in inoperative position, a cartridge holder, a hammer adapted to strike the cartridge in said holder and to be moved in one direction by the movement of the paddle, a coiled spring for throwing said hammer in the other direction, an arm connected with said paddle, an angle lever engaged normally by said arm and held thereby in inoperative position, a coil spring connected with said angle lever, a bulb adjacent said angle lever and adapted to be compressed by said angle lever, a pipe connected with said bulb, and a dial plate having an opening therein connected withl said pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afIiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS DE MOULIN.

Witnesses:

I-I. C. DIEHL, ERIC DE MOULIN. 

